Derailed 2-8-0 locomotive at Northgates, Leicester

L2339. A memorable image of a Robinson Class O4, 2-8-0, (formerly Class 8K) locomotive, seen here after something of a catastrophe on the Leicester viaduct at Northgates. The loco, driven by Bertram Duckworth, was at the head of a goods train when it collided with a light engine, forcing it through the viaduct's brick parapet and into the back garden of a local anglers, Wadsworth & Son. Both Mr Duckworth and his fireman, John Stocks, escaped serious injury, as did the driver and fireman of the light engine, Percy Banyard and Dennis Moore. You can listen to an interview between the driver of the light engine, Percy Banyard, and the son of the owner of the angling shop, Tony Wadsworth (Tony is now a presenter for BBC West Midlands and kindly donated the recording to our archive). To listen to the recording and enjoy many other audio and video recordings, go the the Railway Archive Multi-media page.